Crash barriers for roads and method for assembling same

ABSTRACT

There is provided a crash barrier assembly comprising a plurality of prismatic, solid structural elements, at least one of the elements having a shoulder forming a horizontal surface on at least one of its sides, and another element having substantially matching surfaces on at least one of its sides so as to facilitate juxtaposing of the elements, and coupling means for resiliently interconnecting the elements to each other in a manner facilitating relative controlled movement along the horizontal surface of the one element with respect to the other about the coupling means. A method for erecting a crash barrier is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to crash barriers for roads and highways,and more particularly, to crash barrier assemblies made of prismaticelements and to a method for assembling such barriers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Solid crash barriers made of concrete are built along the roads, eitherby in situ casting or by interconnecting the side surfaces of individualprefabricated elements to each other, e.g., by means of male/femaleconnectors, steel hooks and loops, etc., as per se known.

There are several disadvantages to the above-mentioned prior art crashbarriers, the first being the rigidity of the barriers as compared withbarriers made, e.g., of steel rails or cables. A second disadvantage isthat it is very difficult and time-consuming to achieve a smooth,contiguous upper edge at the desired level of the interconnectedindividual prefabricated elements forming these barriers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a broad object of the present invention to provide crashbarrier elements for roads and highways and a method for assembling samewhich ameliorates the disadvantages of prior art barriers of the sametype.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a crashbarrier assembly erected from individual solid building elements whichprovide a smooth, contiguous surface in both the vertical and horizontalsurfaces and edges.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a crashbarrier assembly made of interconnected individual solid buildingelements including energy-absorbing material, providing a barrier havingcontrollable elasticity upon impact by a vehicle.

In accordance with the invention, there is therefore provided a crashbarrier assembly, comprising a plurality of prismatic, solid structuralelements, at least one of the elements having a shoulder forming twovertical surfaces and a horizontal surface on at least one of its sides,and another element having substantially matching surfaces on at leastone of its sides so as to facilitate juxtaposing of the elements, andcoupling means for resiliently interconnecting the elements to eachother in a manner facilitating relative controlled movement along thehorizontal surface of the one element with respect to the other aboutthe coupling means.

The invention further provides a method for erecting a crash barrier,comprising the steps of providing a plurality of elements according toclaim 3; juxtaposing at least two of said elements, and interconnectingsaid elements by driving said rod through the horizontal surfaces ofsaid elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferredembodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so thatit may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressedthat the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description of theprinciples and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, noattempt is made to show structural details of the invention in moredetail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of theinvention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent tothose skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may beembodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are isometric views of two embodiments of juxtaposedcrash barriers according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, longitudinal cross-sectional view illustratingthe interconnection between the barrier elements of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the barrier of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of still a further embodiment ofthe interconnection between barrier elements;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of yet a further embodimentof the interconnection between barrier elements;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of theinterconnection between barrier elements;

FIG. 10 is an asymmetric view of an edge of a barrier element fittedwith an energy-absorbing body, and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are asymmetric views of an energy-absorbing body andedges of a barrier element fitted therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate isometric views of two embodiments of a crashbarrier 2 for roads and highways. Barrier 2 is assembled fromjuxtaposed, prismatic structural elements, e.g., the general trapezoidalelements 4, 6, 8 or 4′, 6′, 8′. The elements may be configured in manyways, e.g., having a general trapezoidal shape, as shown, or mayadvantageously be symmetrical with respect to their top, bottom and sidesurfaces, so as to enable their positioning in reverse orientations,e.g., elements 8 and 8′.

As further seen in the Figures, the characterizing feature of theelements are the shoulders 10, having two vertical surfaces and ahorizontal surface, which serve as inter-engagement surfaces with anadjacent element or elements.

Referring to FIG. 2, shown are portions of two juxtaposed elements 4 and6, interconnected by coupling means consisting of a pin or rod 12traversing the upper portion 14 of element 4 and entering into a lowerportion 16 of element 6. The connecting surfaces between elements 4 and6 traverse the horizontal planes of the elements.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which the upper portion of the element 4 and the lowerportion 16 of the element 6 of the two juxtaposed elements 4 and 6 areinterconnected by means of a rod 12 extending into a bore 18advantageously, but not necessarily, lined by a cup 20, at least partlyfilled with energy-absorbing material 22, e.g., cement-based material,neoprene, rubber, Teflon®, a metallic, sponge-like body, one or moremetallic springs, or like elastic materials. As seen in FIG. 4, inaddition to, or instead of the energy-absorbing material 22 in the lowerportion of an element, the energy-absorbing material with or without acup 20 may be located around rod 12, traversing the upper portion 14 ofthe element 4. Any or both of the elements 4 and 6 may be formed with abore for accommodating the energy-absorbing material 22, with or withouta cup 20, introduced therein.

Hence, as will be understood, when a vehicle crashes into a barrier 2constructed according to the present invention, the impacted elementwill absorb and soften the blow at least to some extent, before bringingthe crashing vehicle to a stop. Obviously, the strength of the elementsand the rods, and the resiliency of the coupling means between theelements can be predetermined and adapted to different road hazards, thetypes of vehicles travelling along the road, and their speed. Any impactwill thus cause a controlled movement of one element about the couplingmeans, along the horizontal surface of the shoulder 10 with respect toanother, adjacent element.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5. In thisembodiment, the energy-absorbing material 22 is a hydraulic fluid suchas oil. Accordingly, rod 12 is constituted by a tube 24 having at itstop a removable plug 26, facilitating the introduction of hydraulicfluid into the tube after the barrier 2 is assembled. Advantageously,plug 26 may be a pressure-sensitive plug 28 (FIG. 6). This type ofelastic coupling means also necessitates a seal 30 for sealing off thecup 20. The inner diameter of the tubular rod 24, the type of hydraulicfluid and pressure-sensitive plug 28 will determine, inter alia, theenergy-absorbing capability of the crash barrier assembly. Plug 28 canalso be positioned at the bottom of the tube 24.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a further embodiment for resilientlyinterconnecting two adjacent elements 4 and 6. The elements are providedwith narrow slots 32 at the upper and/or lower edges, into which slotsthere are inserted resilient plate members made of metal or any othersuitable energy absorbing material. The plates may be configured assimple flat members 34, as T-shaped members 36 or as a curved leafspring 38. Any one of the flat members and the T-shaped members may beused on the upper or lower sides of the elements 4 and 6. The insertionof such resilient members at the connecting edges of two adjacentelements contributes in absorbing impact forces in order to stop ahitting vehicle while acting as a further damper for absorbing impactingenergy.

Further resiliency of the assembly can be achieved, as seen in FIG. 8,by furnishing the upper, exposed edge of the coupling rod 12 with athread 40 onto which a suitable cap 42 can be screwed against the forceof a spring 44. As seen, the spring 44 bears against the upper portionof an element 4, advantageously via a disk 46.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further improvement with regard to theenergy-absorbing capability of the crash barrier assembly. The road 12may optionally be made with one or a plurality of anchoring members 48and similar to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the lower part of the road 12may be configured as a square plate or cube 50. A compression spring 52is disposed between the cube 50 and a disk 54, constituting an integralpart of the cup 20. Hence, impact against such elements will, to somedegree, be absorbed by the spring 52.

The gaps between the horizontal and vertical interconnecting surfaces ofthe juxtaposed elements can be filled in with suitable filling materialshaving various degrees of resiliency.

In order to further increase the resiliency of the assembly,energy-absorbing resilient bodies 58 (FIG. 10), may be attached by anyper se known means, e.g., screws or nails 60, to one or two of theinterfacing vertical surfaces of the elements 4 and 6. Such bodies 58may be configured as square plates, triangular prisms or trapezoidalbodies.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a modification of the energy-absorbing resilientbodies 58 of FIG. 10. FIG. 11A illustrates a prismatic body 62, made ofany suitable energy-absorbing material, examples of which were describedhereinbefore. Advantageously, inside the body 62, there is embedded areinforcing element in the form of, e.g., a leaf spring 64. The entirebody is inserted in a suitably configured preformed groove 66 made inone or both of the lateral vertical surfaces of the elements. Uponimpact, an element 4 and/or 6 is angularly displaced with respect to oneor two adjacent elements. The corner or corners of the elements may justbe chipped off and eventually, the remaining corner parts will bearagainst the prismatic body 62, also providing absorption of some of theimpact energy.

While the shown embodiments illustrate a symmetrical crash barrierassembly especially suited to be erected between two roads, it should beunderstood that the same type of assembly can also be performed withbarrier elements configured to absorb crashes from one side only,namely, non-symmetrical elements.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is notlimited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and thatthe present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

1. A crash barrier assembly, comprising: a plurality of prismatic, solidstructural elements, at least one of said elements having a shoulderforming two vertical surfaces and a horizontal surface on at least oneof its sides, and another element having substantially matching surfaceson at least one of its sides so as to facilitate juxtaposing of saidelements, and coupling means for interconnecting said elements to eachother in a manner facilitating relative controlled movement along thehorizontal surface of one element with respect to the other about saidcoupling means, and energy-absorbing material associated with at leastone of said elements, providing a controllable elasticity upon impact.2. The crash barrier assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidelements are generally trapezoidal in shape.
 3. The crash barrierassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling means constitute arod interconnecting two juxtaposed elements and traversing saidhorizontal surface.
 4. The crash barrier assembly as claimed in claim 3,wherein said rod is at least partly embedded in said energy-absorbingmaterial located within at least one of said elements.
 5. The crashbarrier assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbingmaterial is selected from the group comprising neoprene, rubber, teflon,metallic sponge, a metal spring or springs, or hydraulic fluid.
 6. Thecrash barrier assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said couplingmeans further comprises a cup-lined bore in said horizontal surface,into which said rod extends.
 7. The crash barrier assembly as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said rod is tubular, facilitating the introductiontherein of fluid.
 8. The crash barrier assembly as claimed in claim 7,said rod further comprising: a removable plug for the introduction ofhydraulic fluid, and a seal for sealing off said cup.
 9. The crashbarrier assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said plug is apressure-sensitive plug.
 10. The crash barrier assembly as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises at least one resilientmember selected from the group of T-shaped members or curved leaf springmembers, which members are flat plate members inserted in a slotinterconnecting two adjacently disposed elements.
 11. The crash barrierassembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the upper edge of said rodfurther comprises a thread and there is further provided a cap screwableonto said thread against the force of a spring disposed between said capand an upper surface of said element.
 12. The crash barrier assembly asclaimed in claim 3, wherein said rod is formed with integral anchoringmembers.
 13. The crash barrier assembly as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid rod is formed at its lower portion with a multi-sided body.
 14. Thecrash barrier assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lower portionof said rod is introduced in a cup, at least partly closed at its upperend and a compression spring is disposed between said multi-sided bodyand the upper closed end of said cup.
 15. The crash barrier assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbing material is affixed onone or both of the vertical surfaces of said shoulder.
 16. The crashbarrier assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbingmaterial is introduced in a groove formed in at least one of thevertical surfaces of said shoulder.
 17. The crash barrier assembly asclaimed in claim 16, wherein said energy-absorbing material has areinforcing spring embedded therein.
 18. A method for erecting a crashbarrier, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality ofelements according to claim 1; juxtaposing at least two of saidelements, and interconnecting said elements by coupling means traversingthe horizontal surfaces of said elements.
 19. The method as claimed inclaim 18, further comprising the steps of: forming a bore in at leastone of said horizontal surfaces; introducing said energy-absorbingmaterial into said bore, and inserting a rod in said material.
 20. Themethod as claimed in claim 18, wherein said rod is tubular, said methodfurther comprising the steps of: introducing energy-absorbing fluid intosaid tubular rod, and closing said rod at its top with a plug.
 21. Themethod as claimed in claim 19, wherein said interconnecting meanscomprise a cap and said rod is provided at its upper end with a threadand the method further comprising the step of screwing the cap onto theupper edge of the rod against the force of a spring interposed betweenthe cap and upper surface of an element.
 22. The method as claimed inclaim 18, further comprising the step of affixing said energy-absorbingbody onto the vertical surface of at least one element.
 23. The methodas claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of introducing aresilient member in a slot formed in a vertical surface of at least oneelement.